Interview with PR chairman Sabri Godo —How do you assess the issue of the Constitution as a whole? —The Constitution must define the country’s governing structures, as well as limit the powers of those structures. This is the source of its importance as the state’s fundamental document. But one can also have a good constitution and bad governance, because administrations are always ready to abuse their power. States must fight every day to protect the constitution. That is how life is. This is borne out even in the world’s most advanced countries. —The President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, is inviting Albanians to vote on the constitution in a referendum. Do you agree with this option? If so, why? —We also examined the issue in the Steering Committee and came to almost unanimous agreement that the referendum should be accepted. In the current situation, nothing else remains. At first, we proposed an Assembly, on condition that the political forces, and consequently Parliament, set the criteria for convening that Assembly. It seems the President finds this choice difficult, given the balance of forces. Now he has suddenly proposed a referendum. There is nothing wrong with that. It is one of the three ways in which a constitution can be adopted, as has also been demonstrated by several countries before us. —Article 16/2 of the constitutional package states explicitly that the Constitution is to be adopted by Parliament. Do you think that a referendum is an option that contravenes this constitutional article? —In reality, holding a referendum does constitute a breach of the article mentioned. However, the breach will be made by the people themselves, who are sovereign over Parliament and the entire institution. In this constitution, Mr. Berisha’s solution was for the people themselves to make the “breach.” —Do you think direct democracy can avoid political passions in such a crucial case? —I do not believe the referendum here will resemble “political passions.” —A referendum gives the people a two-dimensional choice: to say yes or no. Does the quality of the proposal risk being lost in this case? More specifically, some people may dislike one article, while others may dislike different articles. —That is also the downside, or weak point, of a referendum. But this can be eased somewhat if conditions are created for political forces to discuss publicly the articles that do not inspire confidence. That way, people will know better whether they should vote for or against. —What do you predict will happen if the people say “no”? —Something very simple and, at the same time, complicated. The proposed constitution is withdrawn, and other political forces submit their own proposals. This also implies a parliamentary crisis; therefore, a referendum is also a kind of roll of the dice. —A referendum means direct democracy. Can it be rejected? —Precisely because it is direct democracy, it is difficult for a person with democratic principles to say “no” and find sound reasons for doing so. —As the Republican Party, do you now have a final position on the issue? (continued on page 3)

“Ambassador Rajerson is a great friend of the Albanian people, and I do not say this in the general sense of the word. I do not mean ordinary people. But I think that in friendship, the greatest friend is the one who has the most friends.” “Ambassador Rajerson is a great friend of the Albanian people, and I do not say this in the general sense of the word. I do not mean ordinary people. But I think that in friendship, the greatest friend is the one who has the most friends,” President Berisha said at the ceremony honoring the American ambassador to Albania, Rajerson, on the occasion of his departure. The ceremony was held in one of the halls at the Presidential residence. The country’s most important authorities, the diplomatic corps, well-known public figures and intellectuals, journalists, etc., attended. “These days you are completing your service in Albania as U.S. ambassador and returning to your home and your country. During your long diplomatic career, you have carried out various duties. But I think that in Albania you have been a true ambassador and missionary—not only because, in the history of relations between our states, you are the first U.S. ambassador to Albania, but also because you worked with dedication as a true missionary for the development and strengthening of friendship between our two peoples and countries,” President Berisha told Ambassador Rajerson as he presented him with the First Class Flag Medal. visibly moved, Ambassador Rajerson said: “I am leaving Albania with a part of my heart left here.” “REPUBLIKA” Correspondent Photo: A. BABANI

On 1 October 1994, the Second Conference of the PR branch in the district of Dibër was held. In addition to the delegates, PRSH Vice-Chairman Fatmir Mediu and Council member Gjokë Beçi also attended. Representatives of the political forces, associations and trade unions active in this district also took part in the conference. The report on the PR branch’s activities was delivered by its secretary, physician Lutfiu Bruci. The report was said to reflect the various aspects of the work carried out by the branch’s governing bodies and by its local branches and sections in the period between the two conferences. The overall work to recruit new members in many municipalities was praised, as was the Republicans’ commitment to building our electorate, which had positive effects in the local elections in this district, with PR candidates receiving an average of 15% of the vote. The report noted that the PR branch now has an important share in ... (continued on page 2)

News from the PR headquarters

Greece stood firm on Tuesday in the face of efforts by its European partners to persuade it to lift its veto on aid allocated to Albania, diplomats said. Athens, which claims that the rights of the ethnic minority in Albania are being violated, has persistently refused to lift its veto on the $42 million loan. Greece, which has a province of its own called Macedonia, has a dispute with its neighbor over the name, flag and constitution. It also has a longstanding dispute with Turkey over the island of Cyprus. ATSH

Meetings at the PR headquarters On Monday morning, at the Central Headquarters of PRSH, its chairman, Mr. Sabri Godo, the secretary-general, Dr. Cerciz Gjonmajati, and member of the Steering Committee, Arben Brance, received a German delegation headed by Mr. Piter Roshenbah, a German SPD deputy and chairman of the parliamentary Albania-Germany friendship group. Ms. Gisela Nauk, spokesperson for Central and Eastern European affairs in the SPD leadership’s international politics department, and Dr. Juta Tiedtke, political spokesperson, both with the Social Democrats in the Bundes- tag. The chairman of PSDSh, Mr. Skënder Gjinushi, also took part in the meeting. First, Mr. Godo thanked the German delegation for the assistance and support they had given Albania, not only as a state but also as a nation. He then gave a brief overview of the democratic processes and their problems. Regarding the functioning of the three-party coalition, Mr. Godo reiterated that it had not functioned since the end of the dictatorial system and that the government’s views on this issue had not changed. Turning to the question of the constitution, he referred to the Republicans’ position on it, emphasizing the important idea that, despite the urgent need for a constitution as an important means of joining the EC, above all we must consider that we need a good constitution for the Albanian people, one that will last a long time and be able to guarantee respect for the rights and freedoms of individuals and minorities. Asked about the minority and respect for its rights, Mr. Godo replied that the minority is an integral part of the Albanian people, has equal rights, and freely preserves and develops its cultural, linguistic and religious identity. It has never been treated differently from the rest of the population. The tensions that have arisen are not approved of by the minority, but by certain leaders who have created disagreements over things that do not exist, over which it is not worth confronting one another when our peoples should be friends. For precisely this reason, PR has supported the Albanian government’s readiness for dialogue, as well as the initiatives recently undertaken by Greek political forces to resolve the dialogue. Mr. Roshenbah, for his part, stressed that German public opinion and the German press generally considered Greece’s stance toward Albania and Macedonia inaccurate and unfair. “It is not right that, for the sake ... (continued on page 4)

French Foreign Minister Alen Zhype said last night that France had set itself the objective, together with Germany, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU, of resolving by the end of the year at least one of the problems pitting Greece against its three neighbors, Albania, Macedonia or Turkey. Speaking from Luxembourg to Mega, Athens’s private television network, Zhype stressed that the current situation between Greece and its neighbors “was not sustainable.” “If by the end of the year we manage to resolve one of these problems, it will mean that good work has been done. This is the objective we have set ourselves,” he concluded. ATSH

On September 30, 1994, the first conference of the Bulqizë PR branch held its proceedings in the hall of the soldiers’ house. In addition to 117 delegates from all areas of the district and the invited guests, the conference was also attended by Gjokë Beçi, delegate of the PRSH Steering Committee. In his opening remarks, the branch secretary, Halil Rama, asked the delegates to honor with a minute of silence a serviceman who had fallen at the border between the two conferences, two young men from the area who had been killed far from their homeland while emigrating, and a Republican who had fallen victim to the communist land law. “From the outset I want to emphasize that PR has now become one of the main political forces in the life of this district, too,” said its chairman, Seçi Paçi, at the beginning of the branch Steering Committee report. Founded in April 1993 as an independent branch, it is today holding its own conference on behalf of 762 members, a number that is growing at an increasing rate. Voter interest in PRSH is considerable; in their view too, it has a program firmly grounded in the land and in the conditions essential for the development of genuine democracy. Today, six sub-branches with 44 sections operate in our district. With the exception of a few villages in the communes of Klenjë, Gjoricë, Zerqan and Shu- (continued on page 2)

The atmosphere has been calmed of passions and prejudices The “case of the five” in Kavajë is no longer a case. This is what we conclude after the charge was brought... The “case of the five” in Kavajë is no longer a case. This is what we conclude after the charge was brought ... [partly illegible text] ... the refugees has been followed by a marked decline. Moreover, in Domos following the visit to Athens by the Omonia delegation, from ... So it is clear that relations between Athens and Tirana need not be conditioned by the Court of Appeal’s position on the substantiated charge against the five Greek minorities of Albania. Since, finally, this is not a political matter at all, there is no reason for the Court of Appeal to cast doubt on its independence in adjudication, ... ... their latest [text unclear] was also demonstrated by the court of fact investigating [unclear text] ... “Republika” Correspondent Photograph of people seated around a table in a hall; no distinct text is discernible in the caption.

Austria will do everything within its power to enlarge the European Union to include the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the Balkans, says Otto von Habsburg, quoted by the Reuter agency. Speaking at a military gathering in the city of Salzburg, the son of the last emperor of Austria-Hungary said that Austria, which will become the EU’s 13th member on January 1, has a special obligation toward Slovenia and Croatia. The Austrian state news agency APA quoted Habsburg as saying that “we have a clear interest in supporting the candidacies of Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and other Eastern European states for EU membership.” ATSH

After Ramiz Alia had distanced himself from the SP The devil’s wheel has begun to fling off even those who have managed to stay on it until now. The SP, which made the 10th Congress of the PPSH its own, as its first congress, apparently can no longer accept taking directives from Ramiz Alia. It is not so much that such a response would mean they were being led from prison, but that Ramiz Alia was the first to distance himself from it. After that, nothing remained but for the SP too to distance itself from its predecessor, imprisoned on ordinary criminal charges. The last sentence of Servet Pellumbi’s explanation, given to “ZP” itself regarding “R. Alia’s letter to comrade Dritëro Agolli,” also sheds light on S. Pellumbi’s future position (se pakul), but possibly also on that of an entire faction, distancing itself from F. Nano as well. Let us quote it in full so as not to confuse the readers of “Republika.” “I do not want to polemicize with a politician who finds no consolation, whether he looks backward or forward, because in whichever direction he looks, there is nothing but walls, physical and mental.” The devil’s wheel, whose political name is communism, apparently spares no one! FARUK MYRTAJ

Genocide against Muslims Bosnia and the background Page 4 “Man is not only weak” Page 3 The challenges of Europe Page 3 From conferences of PR branches in the districts Page 2

From conferences of PR branches in the districts

“I have not read the Draft Constitution,” said the madwoman N of the capital, on Tuesday in Skënderbej Square. “Why should I read it? Arben Imami told me it is the bad version. That’s enough. And what is this referendum? What does the President have to do with the people? What is this direct democracy? Why should we trouble the people? Why go backward? He has chosen me to air our grievances. It reeks of dictatorship. A politician has met [unclear] (just as he is) and has got him; comrade Enver called on the phone and told him that, he says: ‘The DP is afraid to face the people.’ He also said a couple of words about the doctor Servet Pellumbi. You’d think! It must be Ramiz Alia, he told him. He also said that the lawful body, Parliament, must be defended. Defended whenever the organs of the PS-PSD swell up. On Wednesday morning the madwoman was in front of the Albanian Parliament. The politicians were saying! Pthu... roll up your sleeves. Down with the constitution! Why does Albania need a constitution? Let it remain unapproved. If the President says assembly, we say parliament. If he says referendum, we say assembly. If he says parliament, we say referendum. Let him catch us if he can. The constitution can be approved only by parla assembly ndutm. Pthu... kërnma që s’bimi ere... [partly illegible text] THE CHRONICLER

Page 2 Assembly, on condition that others come before us. or the weak point of the referen- (continued on page 5)